Lewandowski sets Nations League age record in Poland win

Robert Lewandowski scored three goals as Poland defeated Romania 6-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, October 2, becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the competition, according to match reports. At 38 years and 42 days old, he surpassed the previous mark held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 34 years and 120 days when he scored three times for Portugal in the 2019 Nations League semifinal against Switzerland. Lewandowski scored in the 24th, 47th and 86th minutes. His opening goal came from a penalty after Romania defender Radu Drăgușin was sent off. Accounts differ on the precise timing and description of the dismissal, but agree Romania played with 10 men for most of the match. The win was Poland’s first in the campaign. Poland extended its lead after halftime, with an own goal by Virgil Ghiță in the 49th minute followed by goals from Piotr Zieliński in the 62nd and Jan Bednarek in the 66th. Lewandowski’s late strike completed the scoring and his hat-trick. The performance took Lewandowski’s international total to 92 goals and marked his seventh hat-trick for Poland, according to reports. It came in his 170th appearance for the national team.